Giants Drop Third Straight To Rawhide, 8-2

SAN JOSE, CA - The Visalia Rawhide scored eight runs over the first four innings before cruising to an 8-2 victory against the San Jose Giants on Saturday evening at Municipal Stadium. The loss was San Jose's (30-39) third straight to the Rawhide to open the series.
Jonah Arenado (2-for-4, 2 RBI) drove home both Giants runs with a pair of RBI singles to lead the way offensively in defeat. Ryan Howard (3-for-5) added three singles.
Visalia never trailed in the contest scoring twice in the top of the second against San Jose starter Conner Menez to take an early 2-0 lead. Tyler Baker was hit by a pitch to start the frame before Matt Jones drew a walk. A Daniel Lockhart sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third before Galli Cribbs Jr. hit a grounder to first that was mishandled by Dillon Dobson for an error. Cribbs was credited with an RBI on the play as Baker scored the first run of the game. Sergio Alcántara then lined a single into right center to plate Jones for a 2-0 advantage.
The Giants cut the Rawhide lead in half with a single tally in the bottom of the second. Dobson led off with a double to deep left before scoring two batters later on Arenado's one-out single. Visalia though came right back with a run of their own in the top of the third. Marty Herum led off with a single and immediately scored when the next batter, Grant Heyman, doubled off the right center field fence. The RBI hit pushed the Rawhide lead to 3-1.
Visalia then broke the game open with a five-run top of the fourth as all nine batters in the lineup came to the plate during the inning. A walk to Jones started the rally before Lockhart smacked an RBI triple into deep right center. Following a walk to Cribbs and an Alcantara groundout, Jason Morozowski stepped to the plate and singled home two runs for a 6-1 Rawhide advantage. The hit knocked Menez out of the game, but Herum would greet new pitcher Connor Kaden with a single before Heyman belted a two-RBI double to make the score 8-1.
San Jose's only other run came in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Heath Quinn was hit by a pitch before Gio Brusa singled with two outs. Arenado was up next and he delivered an RBI single as Quinn scored to trim the Visalia lead to 8-2.
Rawhide starter Justin Donatella (3-8) earned the win after tossing 5 2/3 innings with two runs (both earned) and seven hits allowed. Donatella struck out four and did not issue a walk. Nick Baker, Kirby Bellow and Mason McCullough then combined for 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to seal the Visalia victory.
Menez (5-3) surrendered a career-high seven runs (all earned) on five hits over 3 1/3 innings to take the loss. The left-hander walked four, hit two batters and struck out three.
Notes
* The Giants are 4-14 in their last 18 home games.
* San Jose out-hit Visalia 10-7 on Saturday, but went just 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 10 on base.
* Aramis Garcia (1-for-4) extended his hitting streak to six games with a seventh-inning single.
* Menez allowed more than three earned runs for just the second time in 12 starts this season.
* Kaden (2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 SO) and Michael Cederoth (3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 SO) pitched out of the Giants bullpen on Saturday.
* San Jose fell to 4-10 against Visalia this year (1-6 at Municipal Stadium).
On Deck
The Giants close out the first half on Sunday afternoon with the finale of their four-game series against Visalia. First pitch at Municipal Stadium is scheduled for 1:00 PM. Mark Reyes (3-8, 5.70 ERA) is slated to start on the mound for San Jose while the Rawhide are expected to counter with Jose Almonte (4-5, 3.90 ERA). For tickets, call (408) 297-1435 or visit sjgiants.com.